Buffing and polishing machine



Aug. 17, 1948. w. DE F. ABBOTT 2,447,454

' BUFFING' AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

1 w. DE F. ABBOTT 2,447,454

BUFFING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Aug 22, 1946 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 1948' w. DE F. ABBOTT 2,447,454

BUFFING AND POLISHING MACHINE s Sheets-:Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 22, 1946 J 47 jg IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 17, 1948 BUFFING AND POLISHING MACHINE Walter De F. Abbott, Buffalo, 'N. Y., assignor to Vanott Machine Corp., Buffalo, N. Y., a cor-, poration of New York Application August 22, 1946, Serial No. 692,285

A 12 Claims. 1 i

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in multiple-spindle bufiing and polishing machines of the type for holding the articles for presentation to a bufiing or polishing wheel.

One of its objects is to provide a machine of this character which is so designed and constructed as to be efficient, reliable and positive in operation, and which is provided with novel means for driving and adjustably timing the spindle-carrying head and the spindles. Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple-spindle bufling machine having simple and inexpensive means for automatically controllingthe driving of the spindle-head and the work-supporting spindles.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bufiing machine embodying my invention, the buffing whee-l being shown in operative relation to the workholding spindles. Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 33, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken in the plane of line 4-4, Figure 3, but with the spindle-head latching shaft in its opposite or released position. Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5- -5, Figure 4;

Similar characters of reference indicate the corresponding parts throughout the several views. 7 w

7 Referring now to the drawings, [0 indicates the base or pedestal upon which the working parts of the machine are mounted, and II indicates a polishing or bufling wheel to which the articles 12, applied to the spindles of the machine, are adapted to be successively presented for bufling or polishing. This wheel is shown mounted on a rotatable shaft 13 applied to suitable frame I11 and driven by a belt I4 in any well known manner.

Applied to the top of the pedestal [0 for rotative adjustment about a vertical axis aswell as lateral adjustment. toward and from the axis of the bufilng wheel is a slide plate ii, a hand wheel [6 being provided for effecting its lateral ad- Justment. Surmounting this plate for bodily adjustment therewith and for independent angular adjustment to the horizontal as well as linear adiustment at right angles thereto. or in a direction parallel to the axis of the buffing wheel, is a work-spindle supporting means consisting of a table I1 adapted for both vertical and angularadjustment through the medium of. adjusting screws l8, and a, casing or work-spindle frame l9 rising from such table and'guided thereon for longitudinal adjustment by a hand wheel 20; This frame supports themultiple-spindle head and its associated parts as well as the 'mecha-. nism for operating the head and the work-- holding spindles.

The numeral 2| indicates a rotatable spindlecarrying head or plate which is circular in form and is journaled for intermittent turning movement on a horizontal arbor or stub-shaft 22 projecting outwardly from the frame IS) in parallel relation to the axis of the buffing wheel I I. Applied to this head and disposed in equi-spaced relation in an annular row about the same are a plurality of rotary spindles 23 having suitable chucks or mandrels 24 thereon for removably supporting the articles to be treated. vThis head is removably retained on the arbor by a thrust plate 25'and at its inner end has a-driving gear 26 connected thereto which is constantly in mesh with an intermittently driven'pinion 21 fixed on the-adjoining end of an axially-shiftable driven shaft 28 journaled in suitable bearings 29 applied to the frame, and also serving as a latching element releasably engageable with one or anotherv of an annular row ofopenings 30 formed in the head. These-openings correspond in number to the work-spindles 23 and the reduced end 3| of the shaft 28, when latched successively there-. with, serves to hold the spindle-carrying head in.

a fixed position while one of its spindles is in operative relation to the buffing or polishing wheel. When the shaft is-shifted inwardly, its latching end is released from thehead and. the

latter isfree to be advanced to present the next.

article-carrying spindle to such'wheel.

Each rotary spindle 23 has a driven pinion 32 thereon adapted,-when presented in operative relation tothe bufling wheel, to mesh with a common driving pinion 33 fixed on the opposing end of'a horizontal shaft 34 parallel to the shaft 28 and journaled-in'a bearing 35 applied to the frame [9. During theoperation of the machine the pinion 33 is constantly driven from an eleca 4 such shaft, the spring 52 normally urging the latter and its thrust collar forwardly against the lever. By this construction as each cam-lug is successively presented to the lever-roller 63, it causes the lever 65 to be tripped or displaced rearwardly and cause the shaft 28 to be shifted from its head-latching position, shown in Figure 3 to the unlatched pos ition shown in Figure A, to thereby cause the clutch-rings 49, 50: to beengaged and drive said shaft 28 to transmit motion to the head 2! to direct the then-operating spindle 23 Loosely mounted on the rear end of the axiallyshiftable, spindle-head driving-sham 2:8, and-"held: against axial displacement relative theretov by suitable thrust shoulders engaging opposite sides of the adjoining rear bearing vzi vis a continu ously rotating drive sleeve 45'having a sprocket wheel 46 fixed thereon between its endsrandconnected by a sprocket chain to a drive sprocket M 48aappliedato;thelmotor-driitfin, common spindledriving;"shaftv 34; At its, flifllltgfllldi this drive sleeveis provided-with a clutchrring- 45,- and; dis; posed inoperatine. relation theretolis a; compam fonaxially-ishiftablelclutchering iukfeatured on the intermediate emarsednortion 5i o lthe a t, 28; A. sprinted-2: encircleslthenlatter and tears at one. end. againstythe-o clutch-ring and; at, its othertendagainst, a; collar. l 3;sh1,.unl; =or otherwise fixed; on. the shaft! Healongside its enlarged porn-n tion to be displaced therewith during: its 'axial displacement into andmut; of lat hin i e a ment with;thelspindleecarrying head-12 i. In the latched; position; of the redueedy end! 0i; this shaft with.onetohthelheadeopenin s139i ,wn figure; 3,. the clutch-Spring: 5&2 rct acte, thhclutchrrings released; sothat no I QHQH; transmitted to. themed-drivin -p niqn thisipositionooflthepartsjt will also be notedzthat the; collan. 531 bears: 8 135 itsl f-mnti side ag in. reaniaceoi the adjoinin efrontzshfifihbearing 29,; andithatl-thetsprins :2 set. the .-d .i ,l l 9 of no mally releas n the 0 tea e eme tsx anda constantly urgingithe; shaft; 28.: to its; at hin position. w 7 v The drive sleevedfisalsa Selma E9: tionl to the mechanismefo 'i sh ftin 1 hai -131g; tolitsgreleased; positiontta allow the .Di .dlfl0@ilb'- ingdiead 211m betadyanced tobringtheheats in;- dleiintotpresentation'withthabnfiip 11 e1, Eon this purposel this sleeveehasea piniq iliiu ll ifi lb adj acent its."rfiaraendnwll lgmfiflgg zwill?! Beat journaledron, a stubzsha jci ifieannli d-z he lower.;rearnxportioit.01% the; t aine 1 ,2 3. 443 a.pinion sli driven.therehytwhiqhe t ur zmfi 2. witha. eanta, iuurnalect ona h an'eadfi, t e sleeve to rotate; independentlmthereoi at; a 116:, duced= speedras determined e h eeat aipst described. Apmiedtdthe-reariace o t-this me-Marcia pluralityc ofi; radial; ribs 53 disposed predetermined spacederelation apdgadapted t hns pport, throu h he.) 1e m-v f' m :01: .the vlilge, oneplor. moretripping lugs fil h v ingfinclined-lcamtfaces fi shereon, uchpam fa being;,=inclined intalcimmruer ntialfi tpti e 292 eacnservina, w en it; aches; a, pr det rm n d; radial positioni tQcauSQ theshait 2 b N axiallyito the released-position 11 m Cooperating, with the e ame e e s QllQWe,

the; i

a w ay fr in and the next spindle into operative relation with the buffing or polishing wheel I I. It

will: beiunderstoodq that the unlatching of the spindleehead is ofi-short duration, while the spacinTg and niimbnoi the cam-lugs employed deterrniries th tirne e lenient of the bufiing or polishing operation.

r Bytway of example three of such cam-lugs GI and eight article-supporting spindles 23 are haman he-dtewin e Bother-attach one-. tm e okin istas aa mina sear;- iax he, at 28.: emomentar x. re ased; om h ad l 2' o a se h :emsentaiiea. 57 1; did-ar n' p ndle l. o. the buffing wheel, and the duration of the buffing op ratilq tonl achtar i le s; thee ima l to at uir iz ot t ish-ve eer a-t a s z ieh rdu n.- Slio ld l hea t les I at esanumter o flmflu S are sed-at ie a h9ts r ima lemsmvbe desired then a rresnqn a re r; unmet-1 mm:

e .i. .vizii fiu ni I aeabu nael naqbine awrlase edl a ne; a multiple-spindle head; rgtatabl nhe en -sewn: ai

e etirasaedler pe ,-l emsifli shinse ewetkeeitidie '9 c e e e etahlupne teda a eadz oe resent -l iit iie-lw el hie lseantee szd' eased a machete aneth f adius-w mpartial-w at a sentation to the buiiing irzl eel, msaese et e aaazaell ie it hl lutch-conshaft 19.1.1; a1 d in; a;

a .v a is be tim tea loiYasPi i leeatie o:

frombits clutching anduatchingepositions;

3. In a bufilng machine, a work-spindle irame as. multiple-spindleehead rotatably-supportedsnnsaid irame,-. a. plurality; oi; rotatable work-receiving.- spindles mounted on said; head fort-presentation v meansldisposediin;thaoperatiyelpathioipaidsspim-i dles forlindividuallyimparting. rotation, thereto uponl'presentation-to the bufiing. wheel; and? come-.4 binedirotatableeandl axiallyeshiitableumeans ifor releasable ;dri-ving..-ande latching engagementwith:

said head-for intermittently rotating it to and latching it in its respective spindle-operating positions, a clutch-controlled driven mechanism for said driving and latching means, and means operatively connected to suchdriving and latching means for governing its shifting to and from its clutching and latching positions.

4. In a buffing machine, a work-spindle frame,

a multiple-spindle head rotatably supported on said frame, a pluralityof rotatable work-receiving-spindles mounted on said head for presentation in operative relation to a buiiing wheel or the like, means disposed in the operative path of said spindles for individually imparting rotation thereto upon presentation-to the buffing wheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame-for operative driving and releasable latching engagement with said head, a drive. member for said shaft, clutch means interposed betweensaid drive-member and said shaft, and means operatively connected to said shaft for governing its axial displacement to and from its clutching and latching positions.

5. In a buffing machine, awork-spindle frame, a multiple-spindle head rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of rotatable work-receiving spindles mounted on said head for presentation in operative relation to 'a buffing wheel or the likeymeans disposed in the operative path of said-spindlesfor individually imparting rotation theretoupon presentation to thebufiingwheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame for releasable driving and latching engagement with said head, the latter having a gear therein and an annular row of openings therein and the shaft having a companion gear in mesh with said head-gear and a portion for endwise latching engagement with one or another of said head-openings, a clutch controlled drive means for said shaft, and means operatively connected to said shaft for governing its shifting to and from its clutching and latching positions.

6. In a buffing machine, a work-spindle frame, a multiple-spindle head rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of rotatable work-receiving spindles mounted on said head for presentation in operative relation to a buffing wheel or the like, means disposed in the operative .path of said spindles for individually imparting rotation thereto upon presentation to the bufi'ing wheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame for releasable driving and latching engagement with said head, the latter having a. gear therein and an annular row of openings therein and the shaft having a companion gear in mesh with said head gear and a portion for endwise latching engagement with one or another of said head-openings, a clutch-controlled drive means for said shaft including a spring fornormally urging the latter to a clutch-released position and to a head-latching position, and means connected to said shaft for shifting it in the opposite direction to its clutch-engaging and headunlatching position.

7. In a buffing machine, a work-spindle frame, a multiple-spindle head rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of rotatable work-receiving spindles mounted on said head for presentation in operative relation to a bufling wheel or the like, means disposed in the operative path of said spindles for individually imparting rotation thereto upon presentation to the bufiing wheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame for releasable driving and latching engagement with said head, the latter having a gear therein-arid an annular rowof openings therein and the shaft having a: companion gear *in' mesh with said head-gear and a portion for endw'ise latching engagement with one or another of said head-openings, a clutch-controlled drive means for said shaft including a spring for normally urg-- the shaft to its clutch-engaged andhead-unlatch ing positions.

8,; In a'buffing machine, a work-spindle frame,

amultiple-spindle'head rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of rotatable work-receiving spindles mountedon said head for presentation in operative relation to a buffing wheel or the like, means disposed in-the operative path of said spindles for individually imparting rotation thereto upon presentation to the buffing wheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame in driving relation to and for releasable latching engagement with said head, a drive member for said shaft, releasable clutch elements applied to said drive memberand said shaft, a spring acting onthe shaft and one of said clutch elements for normally urging the latter to a released position and said shaft to its head latching position, and a complementary means operatively connected to said shaft andsaid drive member for governing theshifting of the former to its clutch-engaging and head-unlatching position.

9. In a bufiing machine, a work-spindle frame,

a multiple-spindle head rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of rotatable work-receiving spindles mounted on said head for presentation in operative relation to a bufiing wheel or the like, means disposed in the operative path of said spindles for individually imparting rotation thereto upon presentation to the buffing wheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame in driving relation to and for releasable latching engagement with said head, a drive member for said shaft, releasable clutch elements applied to said drive member and said shaft, a spring acting on the shaft and one of said clutch elements for normally urging the latter to a released position and the shaft to its head-latching position, a lever connected to said shaft for shifting it to its clutch-engaging and head-unlatching position, and a rotatable member in motion-transmitting relation to said driver member and having means thereon in tripping relation to said lever for governing the actuation thereof.

10. In a buffing machine, a work-spindle frame, a multiple-spindle head rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of rotatable work-receiving spindles mounted on said head for presentation in operative relation to a buffing wheel or the like, means disposed in the operative path of said spindles for individually imparting rotation thereto upon presentation to the bufiing wheel, an axially-shiftable driven shaft journaled in said frame in driving relation to and for releasable latching engagement with said head, a drive member for said shaft, releasable clutch elements applied to said drive member and said shaft, a spring acting on the shaft and one of said clutch elements for normally urging the latter to a released position and the shaft to its head-latching position, a lever connected to said shaft for shiftm8; 1mm me dubcheenga in'g: and. headeuni'atieh inefzpositiqma rofiatablememherhnmatiomtmmy miteinge reia-tien-etmsaid drivemembemena plurality; of; cam-like lugs disposed: im pnedeisermined: snaeed relation: on said; rotatable: memhezs: ion: op:- eredsivei engagement with sa-ict level: fin: governing) axial shifting, of-. seictshezfiz.v j

I'm a; machine. of the-character deseri-bed, a: flame. retatingzhead iournal'edithereom aindiin cludingz a, gear anck havinggsaniannular row: of onen-ings therein, amaxia11y shiitab1mdnivenshafit. jeumaled insaid frame: in epararlleiirelation' tothe. heacbexisandghavingnneend thereofi adapted to, releaseicrlys en age one-on-another of the? Openings in the head to latch it in an operating;position, as. geansaid:- shafi; engaging, said: head-gear, a dnivenzmember'ineluding aeintchzelementza slidingaclubeh. elementiieathered;on1said1driuem shaft, foirmoyement into,andzouhofidrivingrelatiomwith the companion-clutch element; a collar fiXds om SaiiSheftimspacecE reI-ationito saidislidingz clutch: element; a; spring; interposed between the latter. andisaid, collar. for: narmellyurging the; shaftv in: oneiiireetiontmitsheadi-latching-pesitiomandethe clutch elements to a-released position; and means QDeratively-eonneetectto said: shaftzifor shiiting;it. in:;ti1e opposite. direction tor its. clutch-engaging and;head-uniatehing:pOsition.

' 12. .Im av. machinezofi'thez character described, airiameeya rotatin head; jqurnaled; thereon and including azgear' and: hevinea an; annular ofr openingsgtrhereim,aimaxiallyrshiftabie driven shaft; jpumaleitinisaideframejmparallelmeiatiunitorthe;

8 headeax-is amiihmring 'oneendzthereefi' seamen releasablyz engage. one oi: anmbhersof the-openings inl'thfi? head ta 1211:1211 it opera-ting positiungi m gear on; said. shafiz engaging: said; head-geanidaz driven membemnnlmiingsa emheh; dementzazslidsing clutch: el'ementcieathered: unisaid; drivem shaftfor movement into: and; out of driving;- nelatinn: wiirh; theeompanizm clutclLelement, iaienllariflxed on sham; in; spaced reladaion-mz said sliding; eiiwch: eiiemeniz; a spningv interpnsedv between the; lattenand'saiiiioolianibrnormally urgingmhezshafii imone direction: tor-its headf-l'atchingzpesitmm and the: clutuha elements-r t0:- a releasedt. pnsitinm" a rmtatEhIEememberdisposediaxiaiiy-ui said: Sh'fififlififldi geemed tmsaidadrixaenimemhemiaeplnraiim ofitriu-- pingcams: adjustahly' mounterl 10111 the flame: rotatable membm; and: a; lever in emuziing; engagementiat .its'iiree ends wibm saidishaitamdlim the:- path of: traveled said camsgfor a-ctuatihmsaidi shafiz'im the opposite; direction; t'e: its? clutch-em a in and'heackunikztcifihgw pnm'tiou'.

- 1 WALTER-DEE.

'REF-ERENGES; (ax-Tel y The fnliowihg references areof record in the file-of t'fiis" patent? 

